Electric-switch device



Dec. 23, 1930. TH. THOMAS ELECTHIG SWITCH DEVICE Filed Sept. 7. 1928 asm s A W H R mm M E Wm T 2 a W 2 m 6 z\ a m 0 a, 2 I/ Q! 1/ 11 1 4 2 7ATTORNEY r patented Dec. 23, 1930 THOMAS H. THOHEAS,

OF EDGEWOOD, PENNSYLVANIA, AESSEIGNOB- TO THE WESTING- HOUSE AIR BRAKECOMPANY, 01" WILMERDTNG, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORA- ILION OF PENNSYLVANIAELECTRIC-SWITCH DEVICE Application filed September This inventionrelates to electric switches of the type adapted to be used in signalsystems.

An object of the invention is to provide a switch device for controllinga signal circuit and adapted to normally break the circuit.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved switch of thecharacter mentioned which is simple in construction, and reliable andexact in function under all conditions of service.

The invention also comprises certain new and useful improvements in theconstruction, arrangement and combination of the several parts of whichit is composed, as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings; Figure 1 is a horizontal section of anelectrical switch embodying my invention, as seen from the line 1-1 ofFig. 2; and Figs. 2 and 3 are vertical longitudinal sections taken onthe lines 22 and 3-3 respectively of Fig. 1.

In some classes of service it is of advantage to employ an electricswitch which is so constructed that the same may be readily installed ina normally open circuit and be then operated to temporarily close thecircuit. According to the present invention such a switch may comprise abase having terminal contact members adapted to be engaged by contactmembers carried by a cap. The cap is bolted to the base, and the contactmembers therein have upstanding limbs which are spaced apart a suitabledistance so as to maintain the circuit open. A plunger is also mountedin the cap. This plunger is provided with a member for connecting thetwo upstanding limbs when the plunger is manually depressed. A springalso mounted in the cap and bearing against the plunger, normallymaintains the plunger member out of engagement with the upstandinglimbs.

Referring to the drawings, the switch comprises a casing including abase 11 and a cap 12 detachably connect-ed together by means of aplurality of bolts 13, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. r

Mounted in the base 11 is a block 14 of in- This block has recesses 7,1928. Serial No. aoaeee.

15 and 16 formed therein for receiving a, pair of contact members 17 and18 which are respectively fastened to the block by screws 19 and 20.

The side wall of the base 11 has an opening 21 of ample size forpermitting the insertion of the end of a conductor 22 havmg a terminal23 which is fixed to the block 14: and electrically connected to thecontact member 18 by the screw 20.

The screw 19 may be of such length as to pass through the block '14 andenter a threaded opening 24. in the bottom of the base 11 so as toground the contact 17 to the base, as well as secure the block 14:thereto; The block 14: is also secured to the base 11 by a screw 25.

The contact members 17 and 18 are each .similarly formed fromribbon-like material which is bent Lshaped to provide an up wardlyextending limb 26, the extremity of which is folded back toward the limbto provide a resilient finger 27.

The interior of the side wall of the cap 12 is provided within aplurality of perforated lugs 28. Mounted within the cap 12 is a block 29of insulating material, which block is fixed to the lugs 28 by screws30. Preferably, the block 29 is disposed at the open bottom of the capso that when the cap is mounted on the base 11 the lower portion of theblock 29 will extend into the base and surround the upper portion of theblock 14 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The block 29is formed with diametrically disposed openings 31 forreceiving contact members 32 which are rigidly secured to the block bybolts 33.

Each contact 32 is similarly formed from ribbon-like material which isbentto'provide a depending resilient finger 34: having a contourcorresponding to the upper portion of the contacts 17 and 18 and adaptedto engage therewith when the cap 12 is operatively positioned on thebase 11.

The portions of the contacts 32 projecting upwardly through the block 29are bent inwardly towards each other and terminate in reversely disposedbooks 35.

The top of the cap 12is dome-shaped and formed centrally therein is atubular boss 36 which projects upwardly and downwardly therefrom toprovide an elongated guide for a plunger 3 The plunger 37 comprises acylindrical body having its lower end reduced in diameter at 38 forreceiving a cylindrical block 39 of insulating material. The block 39 isprovided with a peripheral groove 40 in which is mounted the flange of acollar 41 which encircles the block.

The top of the plunger 37 is provided with a cap 42, the side wall ofwhich surrounds the boss 36 to prevent the entrance of for eignparticles into the casing.

The plunger is subject to the pressure of an expansible coil spring 43interposed be tween the blocks 29 and 39 and adapted to normally retainthe collar 41 spaced from the hooks 35 of the contact members 32.

For the purpose of preventing rotation of the plunger, the body thereofis formed with a longitudinal slot 44 into which projects the end of apin 45 carried by the boss 36.

From the foregoing description the operation of the device will bereadily apparent. VJhen it is desired to close the circuit the plunger37 is manually depressed a distance sufficient to bring the collar 41into engagement with the hooks 35, thereby bridging the contacts 32.This action compresses the spring 43, and when the pressure on theplunger is released the spring will return the same to the inoperativeposition shown in Fig. 2.

It will be noted that the construction of the device is such that whenit is necessary to disassemble the cap 12 from the base 11, the screws13 can be removed and the cap lifted from the base. Inasmuch as thecontact members 34 are mounted in the block 29 which is fixed to thecap, these contacts will be separated from the fingers 26 and 27 of thecontact members 17 and 18, thereby exposing the block 14. This permitseasy access to secure the terminal 23 of the conduit 22 to the block 14,or to adjust the positions of the contact members 17 and 18.

The functional and structural objects above stated are thus seen to beobtained in the construction described. It is to be un derstood thatcertain features of the invention are capable of modification andcombination in switches of other types without sacrifice of theattendant advantages.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

An electric switch comprising a base, a pair of terminals mounted insaid base, a contact member fixed to each terminal and projectingupwardly therefrom, a cap detachably bolted to the base, a pair ofcontact members mounted in the cap, each of said cap contact membershaving a depending limb for engaging with a base contact member when thecap is fixed to the base and an upwardly projecting limb, a plungermounted in the cap and carrying a collar for electrically connecting theupstanding limbs of the cap contact members, and a spring mounted in thecap and bearing against the plunger to normally maintain said collar outof engagement with said upstanding limbs.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, this 4th day ofSeptember, 1928.

THOMAS H. THOMAS.

